Buckle



(No Model.) F. W. SMITH.

BUCKLE.

No. 581,438. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

IMJJAE! nnllllulun\ 1 n: Mums PETERS c0. FNOYD-LITNO wnsammon. n. a

NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

FRANK WETMORE SMITH, OF REXFORD FLATS, NEl/V YORK.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,438, dated April 2'7, 1897.

Application filed July 16, 1896- $erial No. 599,430. (No model.) 7

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WETMORE SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rexford Flats, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to buckles; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is adapted to serve as a safety-buckle and provided with means for securing the tongue thereof in place and also to prevent interference therewith and to prevent various objects from catching thereon, afurther object being to provide an improved buckle which is adapted for use in connection with harness for horses and which is provided with means for preventing the buckle or the end thereof from rubbing the horse.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved buckle, showing the same connected with the straps of a harness; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section thereof.

In the practice of my invention I provide a buckle of the usual form, which consists of a cross-bar which is designated by the reference-numeral 3 and to which a strap 4 may be secured, and the cross-bar 3 of the buckle is provided with parallel sides 5, which are united at their outer ends by a rod 6, on which is mounted an attachment consisting of a tubular sleeve 7, through which the tongue of the buckle projects, and having at each side projectingplates 8, which are united on their under side by a cross-strip 9 and provided on their upper or outer sides with an inwardly-directed flange 10, and the tongue 13 of the buckle is mounted centrally on the cross-bar 3, and the free end thereof is adapted to bear upon the rod 6, and the sleeve 7 of the attachment is provided centrally with a backwardly directed tongue or flange 13, which is adapted to overlap the end of the tongue of the buckle and to hold it in place,

while serving at the same time to prevent various articles from catching thereon.

In practice the strap 14 or any part of the harness or other device which it is desired to connect with the buckle is passed over the cross-strip 9 of the attachment and beneath the flange 10 and through the buckle in the usual manner, and the tongue of the buckle is passed therethrough, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and when thus connected the strap 14 serves to press the free end of the attachment outwardly and the tongue or flange 13 thereof downwardly upon the end of the tongue of the buckle, and said tongue or flange 13 thus holds. the tongue or buckle in place and also acts as a cover or shield therefor, and the strip 14 also serves to prevent the free end of the buckle from pressing upon the horse.

It willbe apparent that this buckle may also be used as a suspender-buckle and for many other purposes, and my invention is not limited to the use to which it is put nor to the exact form, construction, and arrangement thereof and of the attachment connected therewith, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of theinvention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a buckle, of an attachment provided with a sleeve, which is mounted on the cross rod orbar on which the tongue of the buckle presses, said sleeve being provided with a backWardly-directed flange or tongue, which overlaps the end of the tongue, of the buckle, and said attachment being provided with side plates, between which the end of the strap is adapted to be passed, said attachment including said flange, the flange formed thereon, and the side plates connected therewith, being formed integrally, and adapted to turn on said cross rod or bar of the buckle, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination. with a buckle, of an attachment provided with a sleeve, which is tongue, which overlaps the end of the tongue of the buckle, and said attachment being provided with side plates, between which the end of the strap is adapted to be passed, said side plates being connected at their outer ends and on their inner sides by a cross-strip, and being provided on their upper sides, with inwardlydirected -flanges, substantially as shown and described.

A safety-buckle, of the usual form, the end of which, 011 which the tongue bears, being provided with an attachment, consisting of a tubular sleeve, which is mounted thereon, and through which the tongue of the buckle projects, said sleeve being provided with a back enee of the subscribing witnesses, this 11th 25 day of July, 1896.

FRANK WETMORE SMITH. XVitnesses:

MARTHA LOUISE WETMORE SMITH, VIRGINIA NORTON BROWN. 

